Command-Aire

Last updated
Command-Aire
FormerlyArkansas Aircraft Corporation
Industry Aerospace
PredecessorArkansas Aircraft Company
Founded1926;96 years ago (1926)
Founders
  • Major John Carroll Cone
  • W. F. Moody
Defunct1931;91 years ago (1931)
FateBankrupt
Headquarters,
Key people
  • Albert Vollmecke
  • Robert B. Snowden
ProductsAircraft
Command-Aire 5C3 N997E Command-Aire 5C-3 (N997E) - 1.jpg
Command-Aire 5C3 N997E

The Command-Aire was an American aircraft manufacturer from the late 1920s and early 1930s based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Contents

History

The company was founded on August 26, 1926 by Major J. Carroll Cone and W. F. Moody as the Arkansas Aircraft Corporation. [1] [2] Aircraft were built in the former Climber Motor Company Factory at 1823 East 17th Street in Little Rock, Arkansas. [3] After a failed attempt by their first engineer to produce their own design, they attempted to arrange the purchase of a production licence for the Heinkel HD 40, and when that fell through they hired a Heinkel engineer, Albert Vollmecke, who would be responsible for the rest of the company's designs. [2] In September 1928, the company was purchased by Robert B. Snowden and the name was changed to Command-Aire. With rapidly declining sales due to the Great Depression, and with no acceptable offers for a merger, the company declared bankruptcy in 1931 and its remaining assets were sold off. [1]

Aircraft

Model name1st flightATC #No. builtType
Glider [4] 1928n/a1glider (NX3895)
3C3 [5] 1928ATC 53, 2-201178 or 179three seat biplane
4C3 1929n/a1Prototype two-seat biplane
5C3 [6] 1929ATC 184, 2-25163 or 64three seat biplane
BS-14 1930ATC 2-2041Prototype two-seat training biplane
BS-16 1930n/a2Prototype three-seat training biplane
MR-1 Little Rocket 1930n/a1Single-seat racing monoplane

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References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Lock, Robert G. "Development of Arkansas Aircraft Corporation Model 3C3" (PDF). OX5 Aviation Pioneers. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 Smith, 1992, p.224-246
  3. "Command-Aire". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Central Arkansas Library System. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  4. Lock, Robert G. (February 2010). "My Friend Albert Vollmecke Part II". Vintage Airplane. Vol. 38, no. 2. EAA Vintage Aircraft Association. pp. 19–24.
  5. Juptner, 1962, p.139-140
  6. Juptner, 1964, p.242-244

Bibliography